Girls ride high in football competition
Girls from a Shrewsbury junior school are amongst the best in the country for their footballing skills.
Taking on teams from across the country the team of nine players from St George's Junior School won their way through to the national finals of the seven-a-side Danone Cup.
During the season, the girls, who are in year 6 and aged between 10 and 11, played 28 games and took part in the regional finals of the cup which were held in Nottingham.
Winning all seven games, and without giving a goal away, the girls then made their way to the national finals held at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry last weekend and they came in the top five primary schools in England.
Teacher and manager Nick Flack said: "The girls have been really successful this season and have been a pleasure to take to games. They always play with a smile, passion and determination. Both myself and the school are extremely proud of all of the girls involved. The girls are a credit to the school, parents and themselves.
"The girls have played exceptionally well with 28 games this season. Having won the Shropshire stage of the Danone Cup the girls played in the Regional finals in Nottingham. Once again they won all seven games not conceding a goal.
"Having done this the National finals were held at the Ricoh arena, where the girls won one game and lost two, a brilliant effort by the girls coming in the top five primary schools in England. The girls practice once a week in school and then all play together at the SAHA Football Club in Shrewsbury."
Team captain Lucy Newell said: "Our girls team have done exceptionally well in terms of commitment and ability. Coming fifth in the country is an amazing achievement and we are all extremely proud."
Overall the team are the U11 Girls Shropshire Champions, Regional Champions, Primary School Cup Champions and Challenge Cup Champions.
The Danone Nations Cup is a football competition for children aged 10–12, which promotes the importance of regular exercise and provides children with the opportunity to fulfil their dreams. It is open to all primary schools in England - which total around 16,000.
Every year around 3,000 primary schools compete in the U11 national tournaments which culminate with the Danone Nations Cup England Final.
The winners of the Inter Association Trophy then go on to represent England at the Danone Nations Cup World Final, an international football tournament involving 2.5 million children from 32 countries around the world.
